Admission
Tailored Tuition
Tailored Tuition is an inclusive affordability initiative designed to make an Ellis education accessible to a wide range of families.
The Tuition application is a single application that considers all funding available from the School. By combining scholarships, grants, and financial aid into one process, we’re able to look beyond income alone and consider a family’s full financial picture.
Tuition
To support the greatest number of students, Tuition funds are primarily directed toward students entering the Middle and Upper Schools (grades 5–12). Families applying to the Lower School (pre-kindergarten through grade 4) should expect to contribute at least half of the annual tuition, or may choose to apply for grade 5, when more Tuition funding becomes available.
| Lower School | |
|---|---|
| Grade | Top Tuition 2026-2027 |
| Pre-kindergarten (5 Half-days) | $14,000 |
| Pre-kindergarten (2 Full/3 Half-days) | $16,750 |
| Pre-kindergarten (3 Full/2 Half-days) | $17,800 |
| Pre-kindergarten (5 Full days) | $20,400 |
| Kindergarten | $24,250 |
| Grades 1–4 | $29,750 |
| Middle School | |
| Grade | Top Tuition 2026-2027 |
| Grade 5 | $33,100 |
| Grades 6–8 | $34,950 |
| Upper School | |
| Grade | Top Tuition 2026-2027 |
| Grades 9–12 | $39,400 |
Tailored Tuition Tutorials
Our Tailored Tuition Tutorials have concluded for the year. If you still have questions, we encourage you to reach out to our team—we know the financial aid process can feel complex, and we’re here to help. Our goal is to provide as much clarity as possible around Ellis’s financial aid process and tuition opportunities, and we’re always happy to support you in understanding what’s available for your family.
Payment Plans
The Ellis School is committed to partnering with families to ensure a smooth tuition payment process throughout each school year. Families may select one of three payment plan options offered by the School: the one-payment, two-payment, or ten-payment plan. Families select a payment plan when they submit the Evergreen Enrollment Statement. A different payment plan can be selected for a subsequent year during the Annual Re-enrollment Window.
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Ten-payment Plan
This plan is comprised of ten payments dividing the annual tuition into installments beginning in June and ending in March. Tuition insurance through A.W.G. Dewar, Inc. and payment through FACTS Tuition Management Service are required for this payment plan. The five percent enrollment deposit is due upon submission of the Evergreen Enrollment Statement and is applied to the final tuition payment in March. The annual nonrefundable FACTS fee ($55 for the Ten-Payment Plan) and tuition insurance fees will be withdrawn via FACTS alongside your second tuition payment in July. -
Two-payment Plan
This plan is comprised of two payments dividing the annual tuition with 60 percent due by July 31 and the balance of 40 percent due by January 1. Tuition insurance through A.W.G. Dewar, Inc. and payment through FACTS Tuition Management Service are required for this payment plan. The five percent enrollment deposit is due upon submission of the Evergreen Enrollment Statement and is applied to the final tuition payment in December. The annual nonrefundable FACTS fee ($20 for the Two-Payment Plan) and tuition insurance fees will be withdrawn via FACTS alongside your first tuition payment in July. -
One-payment Plan
This payment plan is comprised of one payment of the annual tuition by July 31. Tuition insurance through A.W.G. Dewar, Inc. is optional, though strongly recommended, for families who select this payment plan. Payment through FACTS Tuition Management Service is required. The five percent enrollment deposit is due upon submission of the Evergreen Enrollment Statement and is applied to the July payment. The annual nonrefundable FACTS fee ($20 for the One-Payment Plan) is withdrawn before the first payment and tuition insurance fees with be withdrawn via FACTS alongside the tuition payment in July. -
Tuition Insurance
Tuition insurance is available through A.W.G. Dewar, Inc. for all payment plans for a fee of 0.85% of your daughter’s tuition. This brochure details the plan’s coverage.
The application for admission and the application for Tuition through Clarity Tuition are separate but simultaneous. The application for admission is due January 1, and the Tuition application window runs from November 1 through December 15 for returning families and November 1 through January 1 for new families. Applications may be submitted on a rolling basis after January 1, but space and Tuition may be limited. The steps to apply are outlined below.
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1. Download this Tuition Assistance Application Checklist
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2. Attend a Clarity Application Info Webinar
Attend a Clarity Application Info Webinar on one of the following dates:Recordings will be available after each webinar. -
3. Review the Family Application Guide
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4. Collect Your Supporting Documents
Collect your 2025 W2(s), 1040(s), and all other schedules and forms pertinent to your filing for your own reference as you respond to questions about income and expenses. -
5. Submit Your Application Between November 1 & January 1
Please note: There is a $65 fee to submit the application. -
6. Families With One Parent/Guardian or Multiple Households
Both the parent/guardian who lives with the student, and the parent/guardian who does not live with the student, are considered jointly responsible for educational expenses; therefore, both parents must participate in the application process. We review the income and assets of both parents to gain a complete picture of the family’s financial resources when determining Tuition adjustments. We understand that every student’s family situation is unique, and in some cases, a parent may not be involved in the student’s life. Please complete one of the following options below that best reflects your family’s circumstances:- Option 1: Have the parent who does not live with your child complete their own application and provide the required tax documents through Clarity. All financial information is kept strictly confidential, and at no time will one household have access to the other's information.
- Option 2: If that parent is not involved in your child’s life or cannot be contacted, complete and sign the Second Parent/Guardian Waiver.
Tuition covers all instruction, field trips, technology, classroom materials, and most co- and extracurricular activities. Beyond tuition, there are some additional expenses related to attendance, which are itemized below.
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After-school Care and Activities
After-school child care, known as the Extended Day Program (EDP), is $605–$2,388 per year, depending on the number of days per week for which the student is registered. Beyond Extended Day, Ellis offers additional after-school enrichment opportunities, including after-school programs, athletics, and Ellis Music Academy. Fees for these activities are published each year, and pre-payment for Extended Day (excluding drop-ins), After-school Enrichment Classes, some athletics, and Ellis Music Academy are required. Fees apply for participation in trips for Pennsylvania Junior Classical League (PAJCL), Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS), Ski Club, and mini-courses. -
Testing Fees
PSATs (which are currently $18) and Advanced Placement (AP) exams (which range from $98–$138) are billed separately. (These rates are determined by the College Board and are subject to change.) Eligible students who receive Tailored Tuition receive a proportional reduction to AP exam fees. -
Textbooks and School Supplies
School supplies are provided in Lower School; students in grades 5–12 are encouraged to budget $50–$150 per year for supplies depending on the student’s grade and course load. Textbooks are provided in Lower and Middle School; students in Upper School should budget $100–$350 per year for books depending on the student’s course load. Students in grades 6–12 must supply their own graphing calculator (around $100). Ellis offers a 1:1 device program in Middle and Upper School at no additional cost. -
Tuition Management and Insurance Fees
Enrollment in FACTS Tuition Management service is required. The fee for the ten-payment plan is $50; the fee for the two-payment plan is $20; the fee for the one-payment plan is $0. Tuition insurance through A.W.G. Dewar, Inc. is required for multi-payment plans, the fee for which is 0.9% of net tuition. -
Uniforms and Merchandise
Uniforms are required for students in kindergarten to grade 12. For new uniform items, including required physical education uniform items, families should budget up to $250; for gently used uniform and physical education items, families should budget up to $150. -
Van Service
If you reside in a school district that does not provide bus transportation for your daughter(s), van service that spans the greater Pittsburgh area is available. The per-student fee for Sewickley, Murrysville, South Hills, and Northern Communities (Pine Richland, South Butler, Southwest Butler, Quaker Valley, and Mars areas) is $4,740 per year for round trip and $2,370 per year for one way. Please note that van service pricing is subject to change.
Scholarships
The Ellis School is funded by tuition, fees, philanthropic support, income from the School’s endowment, and revenue from auxiliary programs. Tuition is supported in large part by endowed scholarships made in honor and memory of remarkable members of Ellis’ community. No additional application beyond the application for Tuition is required in order to be considered for these scholarships. At this time, Ellis does not offer any merit or athletic scholarships.
